The residents and businesses of Clay County are what make our community so unique. Discover new cuisine and meet the members of our county when you ‘eat local’.
With entrepreneurs opening their own restaurants to established restaurants branching out with multiple locations and families sharing their heritage and culture through food – Clay County is home to unique owners and plenty of unique dining.
Take a look at some of the unique places that await you with great food in Clay County –
Barley & Pie Brewing Company
In Fleming Island, the new Barley & Pie Brewing Company opened June 1, 2024. Co-founded by Clay County resident Philip Maple, former brew master of Jacksonville’s Wicked Barley Brewing Company, this is Fleming Island’s first craft brewery. The brewery is home to 20 taps and features a full liquor bar. In addition to drinks, Barley and Pie serves North Florida’s first sourdough neo-Neapolitan pizza.
Order from your table or order at the counter and have your food and drinks delivered right to your table. With live music on the weekends, weekday lunch specials and weekly specialty pizzas – this new pizzeria and brewery is Fleming Island’s new hot spot.
Emangeo’s Brick Oven Pizza
What started as a food truck has taken off for the family-owned Emangeo’s Brick Oven Pizza as they’ve recently moved into their first brick and mortar location in the Green Cove Springs/Lake Asbury area of Clay County. (Don’t worry, you can still find the food truck out in the community too!)
Get ready for creative pizzas like the Spicy Pepper Jack Steak pizza, the Chicken Pesto pizza and the popular Dill Pickle Pizza. Other favorites include hot and cold grinders, dinner plates like fettuccine alfredo, stuffed shells, lasagna and more. If you want to kick your dinner up a few notches, sub the red pizza sauce with a Ranch base instead – delicious!
Johnny’s BBQ
At Johnny’s BBQ in Keystone Heights, no one goes home hungry. Choose from a variety of ribs, pulled pork, brisket, turkey and more. What started as a fifteen table restaurant has quickly expanded into a full-sized restaurant and catering business serving over one million pounds of barbecue a year.
Locally-owned and operated since 1988, Johnny’s BBQ has proudly served residents and visitors with mouthwatering barbecue, seafood, lunch platters and more. With loyal guests from the community, this popular barbecue restaurant partners regularly with the Keystone Heights football team, the Kiwanis Club and more.
Grumpy’s Restaurant
For a bit of a diner feel, treat yourself to Grumpy’s Restaurant in Orange Park and Middleburg – home to creative waffles and Southern diner breakfast dishes, perfect for starting the day. For lunch, choose from a variety of sandwiches, homemade soups, Southern salads and desserts.
Open for breakfast and lunch, the Orange Park location is Grumpy’s original location and they’ve now expanded with five additional stores around the Northeast Florida region. Also, don’t miss checking out the daily chalkboard for daily specials!
Pink Peony
New to Walnut Street, The Pink Peony is home to delicious, sweet treats and a menu that features different home cooking every day, including lunch specials including unique salads and bowls like the chicken teriyaki made with chicken, broccoli, carrots, peppers over rice. Enjoy macaroons, boba teas and coffees and do a bit of shopping at the store’s sister shop – One Swanky Chic Boutique.
At the One Swanky Chic Boutique, you’ll find farmhouse style clothing ranging from fun graphic tees, flashy flip flops and plenty of dress options for a night out on the town.
Urban Bean Coffeehouse Café
In Orange Park, the Urban Bean Coffeehouse Café is home to fresh coffee, gourmet food and made from scratch desserts – including donuts! Located at the intersection of Highway 17 and Kingsley Avenue, the café is locally-owned by Pam and DuWayne Hegel and known is a local gathering place for the Orange Park community.
Urban Bean features breakfast all day, every day along with flatbreads and handheld sandwiches. Try their variety of coffees and pick up a dozen authentic New York bagels baked fresh in-house, daily. At night, the café frequently features live musicians and welcomes small groups. And don’t miss their donut selection that changes often and sometimes carries themes like Shark Week donuts!
There’s plenty more places to discover during your time in the area. So, we hope you are hungry, get out and enjoy great eats found around Clay County!
